Newbie Alert! Bought a new truck yesterday

[Nine Ball]

This site is very informative and I've been lurking for a few months now on it, while shopping for my truck. I've learned a ton just browsing around and reading several posts, so thanks everyone for contributing to this site.



I picked up my new 2004. 5 Ram 3500 dually last night. Its the truck I've been searching for (option-wise) so I had to have it.



Black on Black Laramie package, sport appearance package

Automatic 2wd, 600 HO

Dually! I plan on hauling my cars around in style



Seems like the mileage is pretty good for a brand new truck, it only had 14 miles on it when I picked it up. On the way back home (hour drive, all interstate) the overhead was showing 17. 6 mpg cruising at 70. On a 60 mile trip today it was showing 18. 2 average cruising at 60 mph. Maybe because it is flat here in Houston?



I love this truck, and look forward to participating on the site. I'm co-owner of another message board (LS1TECH.com), so I have plenty of experience on forums haha.



Tony

 

[100 Proof]

Welcome aboard Nine Ball!



Isn't the LS1 the engine in that sweet new GTO I was lookin' at yesterday? Any way to get it to run on #2 diesel?



100 Proof

 

[CWade]

Welcome aboard Nine Ball !



I'm sitting here trying to decide wheather or not to trade my '01 H/O 6sp 3500 for the new '04. 5 H/O auto 3500 4WD I test drove last night. Reading the excitement in your post and the fuel mileage report might have just helped with my decision.



Thanks,

Charlie

 

[Nine Ball]

100 Proof, the LS1 based engines are found in:



Corvette

Trans Am

Z28 Camaro

SS Camaro

Formula Firebird

99+ GM full size pickups

00+ Tahoe/Suburban/Denali/Yukon

Avalanche

Hummer 2

Z06 Corvette

GTO

Cadillac CTS-V

Cadillac Escalade



They run pretty good without diesel, haha. My '02 SS is currently about 490-500 crank HP, and still manages 30-31 mpg on the highway cruising at 75 mph. Ported factory heads, cam, and exhaust work. The GTO has the same potential.



Charlie, those test drives sure can put a smile on your face. I sold my '02 GMC (non diesel) to get the Dodge.

 

[Chris N5CWM]

Hey Nine Ball, which side of Houston do you hang around on? I'm in the Conroe/Montgomery/Lake Conroe area. Check SIG below for truck details. Plate says N5CWM on it. Paint is white.



I'd love to check out your Camaros sometime. My first car was a 1970 1/2 Z28 4 speed. Had it from 1982-1994. Also had a new 1993 Camaro Z28 6 speed when they first came out.

 

[Chris N5CWM]

Here's my 'old vs new' pic.



#ad

 

[Jeremiah]

Originally posted by Nine Ball

This site is very informative and I've been lurking for a few months now on it, while shopping for my truck. I've learned a ton just browsing around and reading several posts, so thanks everyone for contributing to this site.



I picked up my new 2004. 5 Ram 3500 dually last night. Its the truck I've been searching for (option-wise) so I had to have it.



Black on Black Laramie package, sport appearance package

Automatic 2wd, 600 HO

Dually! I plan on hauling my cars around in style



Seems like the mileage is pretty good for a brand new truck, it only had 14 miles on it when I picked it up. On the way back home (hour drive, all interstate) the overhead was showing 17. 6 mpg cruising at 70. On a 60 mile trip today it was showing 18. 2 average cruising at 60 mph. Maybe because it is flat here in Houston?



I love this truck, and look forward to participating on the site. I'm co-owner of another message board (LS1TECH.com), so I have plenty of experience on forums haha.



Tony

Forget that stupid overhead! Figger your MPGs using simple arithmetic and you'll be a lot happier. Well, at least more accurate.

 

[Nine Ball]

Chris, I live in Bellaire for another couple weeks, then moving into my newly constructed house in Summerwood (near Humble). Nice Camaros!



Tony

 

[Sherman]

Re: Re: Newbie Alert! Bought a new truck yesterday

Originally posted by Jeremiah

Forget that stupid overhead! Figger your MPGs using simple arithmetic and you'll be a lot happier. Well, at least more accurate.

I have found my overhead to be pretty accurate over the last 10,000mi,off by less than . 5mpg!

 

[Jeremiah]

Re: Re: Re: Newbie Alert! Bought a new truck yesterday

Originally posted by Sherman

I have found my overhead to be pretty accurate over the last 10,000mi,off by less than . 5mpg!

Heh-heh. Pretty accurate isn't good enough for me. I'm an old pilot who remembers that everything becomes rate when the airplane door closes. Rate of climb, gallons per hour, etc. It's important for me to know PRECISELY how many miles per gallon I get in case I want to squeeze a few extra miles out of a tank.